Teaching in 'real time'

 

Overview: Why have students in Ms. Lenski's class replaced their textbooks with newspapers? How do you think this new format affects student learning? Use this article and discussion activity to give students the opportunity to explore how one teacher is utilizing current events in the classroom. Challenge students to write a letter to a child in the year 2101 that explains the events on September 11, 2001.

Curriculum Connections: U.S. History, Sociology, Current Issues

After students read the CNNfyi.com story, "A lesson in history ,"ask the following questions:

1. Why have students in Ms. Lenski's class replaced their textbooks with newspapers? How does Ms. Lenski start each class? What are the students writing about today? What do the students think of the new class format? How has communication among the students changed since Ms. Lenski opened class for discussion on the events of September 11?

2. How diverse is the student population at Clarkston High School? Explain how some students are able to draw upon their personal experience as they add to the discussion of the September 11 attacks. How does ethnic and cultural diversity contribute to the diversity of thought? Why do you think the school will continue to promote discussions like these?

3. Are your classes engaging in discussions about the terrorist attacks? If so, do you find them useful in your understanding of what happened? Have they helped you to better deal with the tragedy? Explain. If not, would you like to have more discussions about the attacks? Explain. Besides general information, what do you think the students in the video are learning from their discussions?

4. The classroom focus on the terrorist attacks is referred to in the video as "history in realtime." Ask students what they think this means. Challenge them to think of ways they will explain the events of September 11 to their grandchildren. Direct each student to write a letter to a child in the year 2101, explaining what happened and what it was like to experience the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Share student letters and discuss how a personal account of history impacts what future generations learn about the past.